From Cell to Garden Plot: Growing Futures for Ex-Offenders

Community-Based Correction Program The sentencing systems and incarceration programs that are established have four traditional, primary goals: incapacitation, punishment, deterrence and rehabilitation (Wright, 2010, p. 3). In devising this proposed sentencing plan for community-based corrections work, I took the following into consideration: In what may seem an ironic statement, time is of the essence with incarcerated individuals. The longer a person is exposed to penal environments, the more likely the culture and sentiment of correctional institutions become integrated into their mindset.

Research has shown that this is particularly true of low-risk offenders, as those "spent less time in prison were 4% less likely to recidivate than low-risk offenders who served longer sentences" (Wright, 2010, p. 8). Moreover, According to current research on incarceration, taking a hardline approach to punishment does not have the impact on crime rates intended by policymakers. To wit: "Research to date generally indicates that increases in the certainty of punishment, as opposed to the severity of punishment, are more likely to produce deterrent benefits" (Wright, 2010).

The optimal characteristics of a program sentencing option include procedures that ensure offenders maintain ties to their community, employers, and family, as these avenues to legitimate opportunities and pro-social contacts are crucial to success and reentry for offenders at the end of their sentence (Wright, 2010). In fact, the first few days following release are pivotal to the future success of ex-offenders.

Accordingly, the program must enable the offenders to achieve marketable, transportable skills for which they can establish connections that will enable a seamless reentry and that will produce immediate livelihood. The proposed program will be based on organic food production and distribution. The organic food market is fast growing and, in conjunction with the slow food movement, is helping to change the way people eat. While incarcerated, inmates can learn about traditional and alternative ways of growing organic foods.

Indeed, the grounds of many correctional institutions may already have "hot" houses for gardening and small garden plots. Inmates can also learn the basic of small market groceries as a way of addressing the food desert problem in urban areas. A successful business model that is gaining ground is the establishment of small groceries in reclaimed and relocated cargo containers. With support from the community in the form of permits and licenses, ex-offenders can establish themselves as small grocers in urban areas.

Indeed, it is entirely possible that these "instant" grocery stores can be located in or near the neighborhoods where ex-offenders' families and social connections live. The program would essentially train inmates to be entrepreneurs in the small grocery industry. The work would be gratifying, would ostensibly help to feed the program graduates and their families, and would establish the grocers as independent business people with a going concern.

An additional strength of the program is that the skills learned in the program are applicable to other types of jobs in agriculture, retail, and businesses such as hydroponic growing, nursery maintenance and sales, and landscaping. Also, neighborhoods that have community gardens often need an on-site person to provide guidance and arrange for lending of.